Electrical relay.



S. B. HESS.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB. 1914.

1,183,652, Patented June 27, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

In ventor:

Atty

mu COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASIHNQTON, D. C-

S. B. HESS.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED :uws, 1914.

1 ,1 88,652. Patented June 27, 1916.

i7 2 2 $HEETSSHEET 2- /7' Inventor:

UNITED SIMON B. HESS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

' Application filed July 8, 1914. Serial No. 849,703.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, SIMON B. Hess, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Relays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in electrical devices, and more particularly aims to produce a novel and improved form of relay of a simple, sturdy and reliable construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a relay of improved. construction, wherein there will be eliminated to a greater degree than heretofore the faults common to such devices.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less broad than those stated above, together with the advantages inherent, will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the course of the following descri 'ition of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts, and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will appear from the claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein two embodiments, of the many various embodiments possible of illustration, are disclosed as being at present preferred; Figure 1 is a composite view, wherein one embodiment is shown in perspective and with certain of the parts partially broken away, and wherein the circuits illustratively associated therewith are diagrannmitically disclosed; Fig. 2 is a view similar to F ig. 1, but showing another embodiment and its associated circuits; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a detail of construction characteristic of both the present embodiments.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now )articularly to the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1, and deferring for a moment a description of the various circuits shown in connection with said embodiment, said embodiment is disclosed as including a cruciform bed-plate 4, the termini of one arm thereof including integral upstanding standards 4: and each of the termini of the other arm thereof in cluding a boss 4. Each standard 4 has mounted upon the same a cross-bar 5, one of the crossbar-s supporting electromagnets 6 and the other crossbar supporting electromagnets 7. Each boss 4 is tapped for the reception of a pivot-screw 8, said screws serving pivotally to mount the armature 9. Armature 9 is provided with a depending stud 9, to the lower terminus of which stud is attached a bow-spring 10 intermediate the length of the latter. The armature has aflixed thereto a plate 11. Upon this plate is fixedly mounted a female contact 12 and an offset stud 11 adapted to support the upstanding contact 13. Female contact 12 is preferably constructed of some resilient metal (and preferably one of high conductivity, such as silver), whereby there may be established the spring-jaws 12'.

Rigidly mounted upon bed-plate 1 but insulated therefrom is a square pillar 14L carrying at its top a binding post 15. Offset from said pillar is a bracket 16, through which is threaded an adjustingscrew 17 Said adjusting screw is provided with an end-stud which, as shown in Fig. 8, is adapted to enter a recess formed longitudinally of a slide-shaft 1S. Said slide-shaft is transversely slotted as disclosed in said Fig. 3 and the end stud carries a pin, similarly disclosed, to cooperate with said slot. The slide-shaft is horizontally movable transversely of pillar 1 1; but it is provided with a key 18 as shown in Fig. 3 which cooperates with a suitable key-way formed in pillar 14:. Said slide-shaft at its end which is removed from adjusting screw 17 carries a male con tact 19 which is provided with a V-shaped face-plate 19. This face-plate could also be constructed of any suitable material of a high conductivity, such as silver. It may here be stated that male contact 19 is adapted to cooperate, predeterminedly and as hereinafter described, with female contact 12 and more particularly with the spring jaws or leaves 12 of the latter. Pillar 14, below bracket 16, is horizontally threaded for the accommodation of an adjustingscrew 21, adapted for use in adjusting bovspring 10. Rigidly mounted also upon bedplate 4; but insulated therefrom is a square pillar 22 carrying at its top a binding post 23. Otl'set from said pillar is a bracket 24, through which is thr aided an znljusting screw 25. Said adjusting-screw is provided with an end-stud similar to the end-stud :arried by adjusting screw 17; and the endstud of adjusting" screw 25 is adapted to en te' a recess formed within a slide-sl af 26 Similar to slide-shalt 18, said recess formed in slide-shat't 526 being similar to the recess (see Fig. formed in slide-shaft 18. Slideshat't 26 is slotted similarly to the slotting ot' slide-shatt- 1S, and the end-stud ot' slideshaft 26 carries a suitaliile pin adapted to -ooperate with the slot formed in slideshatt 26. Slide-shaft 2(3 is horizontally movable transversely of pillar 22; but it is prorided with a key 26 as shown in Fig: l which cooperates with a suitable key-way termed in pillar Said slide-sha r is provided with a squared end upon which are fixedly mounted he cooper-antspringr members adapted to establish the female contact :27. The members which constitute the contact 27 could also be constrrurted ol any suitable metal of a high conductivity, such as silver. It may here be stated that female contact 27 is adapted to cooperate, prcdeterminedly and as hereinafter described, with the contact 1-3 carried by armature 9. Pillar la low bracket 2+. is horizontally threaded for the accomnuulation of an adjusting-screw 28, adapted for use in adjusting bowspring' 10.

Before proceeding with a description of the operation of the embodiment just described, a consideration of the illustratirely elementary wiring systems and associated parts of which the relay is discl 'ised as constituting a component, will be advantageous.

The retercnce numeral 29 indicates a source of electro-moti e force adapted normally, on account of the presence of the properly designed resistance 38 located in a shunt 37' arranged across a fire-alarm box 33 of the usual type. to pass practically all of its current through a single circuit including a wire 29. a wire 30, an electromechanical gone 31, a wire lire-alarm box 3 a wire 3 t, electromagrnets i", and wire 35 to return to the source of supply 29. Another circuit may be traced as including the shunt 37. said shunt comprising a wire 37, said resistance 38. a wire 39. electromagnets 6, and a wire 40. In addition to the two circuits just described, there are shown a plurality of auxiliary circuits which have interposed therein a common source of current supply l1. An alarm circuit is termed leading: from said source -l-1 to a bell it and includes wires 42 and -12; a wire st?) l ads from said bell l t to the binding post 15; and a wire 45 leads from DlVOt-SCI'OCV 8 ba 'l; to the source $1. The othe auxiliary circuit is a warning circuit or signal circuit, and includes the wire 42, a bell l6, a wire l7 leading to the binding post 23, and the wire 15 leading from pivot-screw 8 back to the source 41.

It may be well at this point to detine the circui which includes the gong :31 (which gong would pi'et'a'z bly be located on a particular floor) as the protective or lirealarni circuit; to define the circuit which includes the resistance 38 as the circuit for ini'lircctly bringing" about the operation o't hell it; to define the circuit which includes said hell it (which hell would preferably be located atalarnrheadi uarters) as the circuit for directly operating hell it, and to dcliie the circuit which includes the bell to (which hell would also be preterably loatcd at alarm-head uartcrs) the circuit or indicating a tailure of source of supply S Now, as aforesaid, the protcctire or .re-alarm circuit, due to the presence as rfcu'csaid o'l shunt 37 and resistance 38. nornally allows the dceuerc'ization o1 electro ua uc-ts (3. but energizes electron:aeuets 7, 11d contact 13 is then located as shown in when lines at 1?) in Fig. 1, thus maintaiir a open both the bell-4 t. circuit and the (Bell ill and hell it) are circuit.

l pon a failure ot said protectire or c-alarm circuit, or upon a manual release of the circuit opening means located in firealarm box 33 which means usually consist of an intermittently operating: circuit breaker.

the elcctr mechanical gong: 31 actuated a prcdeterniined number of times (say to indicate the particular floor oil the building upon which the tire occurs). Simultanemisly, due to the consequent failure oi the protective or fire-alarm circuit, and the ext 'a surge of current through the circuit for indirectly bringing about the operation of hell it (which circuit include: as atoresaid the resistance 38), electromagnets (l are energized. This brings together contacts 12 and '19, wedgring' the latter tightly between the spring jaws 12 ot the former. at the same instant causing a snapping: o'l contact 13 from its just-mentioned location 13 past contact 2? to take up its location 13 shown in Fig. l. thcrea'l'ter still to maintain open the bell-l6 circuit. These operations result in a closing" of bell-til circuit and the giving ot an alarm at tire-alarm headquarters. Upon a failure of the main sourc: and a consequent deenerg'ization of both electroinagnets (3 and electromagnets T lea ring tl e armature unattracted, (irrespective o'l whetlicr contact 13 was just previously occupying the location 13 or the location 13 illustrated in Fig. l), the predctermiiual tension of bow-spring 10, due to its adjust ment by means of adjusting-screws Q1 and 2S, constitutes means for resiliently mo ine' armature 9 to an intermediate position such that contacts 13 and 27 become cooperant. Upon this occuring, the bell-46 circuit is closed, and gives said lire-alarm headquarters immediate notice of the failure of said source 29.

The possibilities of this embodiment of the invention having been made apparent. by the foregoing, certain of the advantages inherent in the relay disclosed in Fi g. 1 may now be mentioned. In the first place, atten tion is directed to the form of contact 19 which establishes a wedging result in connection with contact 12, \"vhereliiy it is inconceivable that said contacts may ever fail to make a certain connection and one of gradually increasing and comparatively great final area. In the second place, attention is directed to the form and characteristics of contact 27 whereby the contact 13 may be disposed at a. point in either di rection relatively of said contact 27 and longitudinally of slide-shaft 26, at each of which points said contact 13 will be removed from connection with contact 27, and from each of which points said contact 13 may be spring-urged to advance toward said contact 27 to make connection therewith upon a failure of both sets of electromagnets, Attention is also directed to the means which are provided for longitudinally and with great exactitude adjusting slide-shafts 1S and 26, without transmitting to them any undesirable motion similar to the rotative functioning of adjusting-screws 17 and 25.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of Fig. 2, the same is shown as includin a cruciform bed-plate 48, the termini or one arm thereof including integral upstanding standards 48 and each of the termini of the other arm thereof including a boss 18. Each standard 18 has mount ed upon the same a cross-bar 49, one of the cross-bars supporting electro-magnets 5i) and the other crossbar supporting electromagnets 51. Each boss 4L8 is tapped for the reception of a pivot-screw 52, said screw serving pivotally to mount the armature Aru'iature is provided with a depending stud 53. to the lower terminus of which stud attached a leaf-spring The armature has aliixed thereto a plate Upon this plate is fixedly mounted a female contact 50, which is preferably constructed of some resilient metal (and preferably one of high conductivity, such as silver), whereby there may be esablishcd the spring-jaws 56.

Rigidly mounted upon. bed-plate 18 but insulated therefrom is a square pillar 57 carrying at its top a binding-post 5S. Offset from said pillar is a bracket 59, through which is threaded an adjusting screw 60. Said adjusting-screw is provided with an end-stud similar to that shown in Fig. 3 in connection with adjusting-screw 17; and which end-stud of adjusting screw 17 is adapted to enter a recess formed longitudinally ofa slide-shaft 61, said recess and slide-shaft being respectively similar to the recess and slide-shaft 18 disclosed in Fig. 3. The end-stud of adjusting-screw 60 is provided with a pin similar to the pin shown in Fig. 3 as beingcarried by the end-stud of adjusting-screw 17, and the pin of ad justing screw 60 cooperates with a slot formed in slide-shaft 61 and similar to the slot shown in said Fig. 3 as being formed in slide-shaft 1S. Slide-shaft 61 is horizontally movable transversely of pillar 57; and it is provided with a key similar to the key 18 (see Fig. 3) which cooperates with a suitable key-way formed in pillar 57. Said slide-shaft G1 at its end which is removed from adjusting-screw 60 carries a male contact G2 which is provided with a V-slnped face-plate 63. This face-plate could also be constructed of any suitable material of a high conductivity, such as silver. In connection with this emlmdiment, also, let us first consider the illustratively elementary circuits and parts with which the relay is shown as associated.

The reference numeral (ll indicates a source of supply adapted to pass current through electromagnets 51, a fire-alarm box 65 and an electro-mechanical gong 66. From an auxiliary source of supply 67, a circuit may be traced which passes through electromagnets 50 and a bell 70, said electromagnets and said bell being arranged in parallel; a wire 71 leading to pivot-screw and a wire 69 leading back to the source of supply 67.

The operation of this embodiment, which is characterized by details of construction and general advantages similar to those of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, should be largely obvious; for it is clear that upon a manual or other actuation of fire-alarm box 65 the electro-mechanical. gong 66 will be operated by a breaking of that circuit which was normally energizing electronnignets 51 and consequently maintaining open the bell- 7 O circuit. Upon this occuring, contact 56 will be spring-urged toward contact 62 to close said bell-70 circuit. design of the contacts serves to make the spring-urged movement of contact 56 suiticient to render certain an energization of electromagnets 50, thereby to capacitate the same to cause the wedging relation of the two contacts, upon whose connection the in tegrity of the energizing circuit of said electromagnets 50 depends, to be more certain and positively maintained. The hell 7 O, in parallel with the electromagnets last-- mentioned, gives a suitable alarm.

Inasmuch as many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely diii'erent embodiments of my invention could be made without departing Here the novel from the scope thereof. it is intended that all matter :ontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying d 'awing's shall be interpreted illustrative and not 5 in a limiting sense.

It is also to be unders ood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention. whicn. as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

l. claim i l. in a device of the class described, in ombinalion, a pair of ceoperant contacts movable relatively ot the other, one of being wedge-sha g al and the so termed as to establish a recess the firstmentioiled contact 1 'ic ica l wedged, and reo be actuated to adcon": ct relatively of i to maintain 1 contact in line with the aid cooperrnit ccntact.

evicc o't tllL class described, an n sposul lutwccn two electromagin contact with a coiiperant contact Lemiwr. and adapted to be electromagnetitluenced in either of two directions,

to open a circuit.

3. in a device of the class described, in cembination, a first electromagnet adapted normally to 'i an ar' 1 e in an attracted position, a srcond eitromagnetadapted abnorniellv to attrac id armature upon a decrease ot magnetic strengtl in the electromac-net lirst mentioned. to close a trst circuit in its path of movcnent wiile being actuated by said sec-2nd electroniagjnet.

in av device ot the class de cribed, in (f(7i1l)l1];ltl -Tl, a first elcctromagnetadapted normally to hold an armature in an attracted position. a secind electromagnetadapted ahnormallv to attract said armature upon a decrease of magnetic strength in the clcctroman'nct first mentioned, to close a. first circuit in its path of movement while being actuated by said second electroniagnet, and to close a second circuit while in engagement with the second electromagnet and adapted to be automati all restored to normal upon a change of magnetic inlluence to normal.

5. in a device of the class described. in combination. a first electromat'net adapted normalh to hold a a ruriture in an attracted position with its associated contact member within the enlarged resilient recess oil. its

ir: to

cofiperant contact member but not in engagement therewith. a second eleclromagnet adapted abnormally oattract said armature upon a decrease of magnetic strength 9 in the electromagnet first mentioned, to

close a first circuit in its path or" movement while being actuated by said second clectromagnet, and to clos a second circuit while in engagement with the second electromagnet, and adapted to make a Second contact to again close said first circuit in its path o, movement in automatically restoring to normal upon a change of magnetic influence a de ice of the class described, in combination, two electroma mets, one disposed relatively opposite the other, and means for energizing both, from one source at energ v, two polepieces, a neutral armature and trunnion mounted centrally between said electromanuets, adapted to vibrat according, to the preponderance ot magnetic flux in one or the other o't Said electromagnets.

l in a device of the class described, a neutral armature disposed between two series wound electronmnncts, movable in either r a. device of tile class described, in combination. an armature. two contact mem- .:ciatcd therewith. one being rigid L shaped and one being resilient and substantially V shaped in form, a first electrmnagzuet adapted normally to hold said. armature in attracted position with its associated rigid contact member within the enlarged resilient recess of one of its cooperant cont; ct members but not in engagement therewith, a second electromannet and an adj. stable triangular contact member associated therewith. said second electromagnet being adapted to attract said armature, to malze momentary contact between the rigid contact member and its coiiperant resilient contact member to close a circuit, and a permanent contact bet-ween the second mentioned contact member. and its cooperant triangular contact member, upon a decre; sc ot magnetic strength in the electromagnct first mentioned.

9. in a device of the class described, in cmubination, a first clectromaguet adapted normaltv to hold an armature in an attracted position with its associated contact member within the enlarged resilient recess of its coiiperant contact member but not in engagement therewith, a second electromagnet adapted abnormally to attract said armature upon a decrease of magnetic strength in the clectromac'nct first mentioned, to close a first circuit in its path of movement while being actuated by said second electromannet, and to close a second circuit while in engagement with the second electromagnet and adapted to automatically restore to no anal upon a change of magnetic influence to normal.

10. In device 01"- the class described, in

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combination, two electroi'nagnets, each comprising a coil serially Wound, a pole-piece and yoke, a trunnion pivotally supporting a neutral armature centrally disposed between said electromagnets, and a plurality of contact switch members controllable by said armature according to the prep0nderance of magnetic influence.

11. In a device of the class described, an adjustable contact member coniprising, a bed plate, a pillar mounted thereon, a bracket offset from said pillar, through which is threaded an adjusting screw provided With an end piece, and a transversely slotted slide shaft having a longitudinally formed recess for said end piece and carrying at its end a Wedge shaped contact adapted to be rotatively adjusted Without disturbing the aliuement of said wedge.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

SIMON B. HESS,

In, the presence of Arreosrus M. HENRY, Geo. F. MA'r'rUoK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or ratentl, Washington, D. C. 

